Cigar-lighter.



PATENTBD DEC. 13, 1904.

J. 1. AYES.

CIGAR LIGHTER.

APPLIOATXON FILED 113N215. 1903.

HO MODEL.

No. 777,061. PATBNTED DEC.13, 1904.

J. I. AYBR.

CIGAR LIGHTER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 15 1903.

N0 M 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WMY/M PATENTBD DEC. 13, 1904.

3.1. AYER. CIGAR LIGHTER.

APPLIUATI'OH YILED JUNE 15. 1903.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

R0 KODBL.

No.777.061. PATENTBD DEC. 13, 1904.

J. I. AYBR.

CIGAR LIGHTER.

APPLXSATXOH FILED JUHE15, 1903.

N0 MODEL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

mes-w. lime/70w.

7/2., I 26, JwwasaZl 71,

UNITED STATES JAMES I. AYER, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO SIMPLEX Patented December 1 3, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

ELECTRIC HEATING COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A COR- PORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

CIGAR-LIGHTER.

SPECIFICATION forming art of Letters Patent No. 777,061, dated D em er 13, 1904.

Applica i n fi June 15, 1933- Serial No. 161,436. (No model.)

To (all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JAMES I. Arne, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cambridge, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in CigarLighters, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

My invention is an electrical device for producing an intense heat, and the embodiment thereof herein shown is in the form of a cigarlighter, the mechanism being also adaptable to various other uses where intense heat is desirable at intervals.

In carrying out my invention 1 provide means for automatically focusing an arc-light at the point desired, together with an automatic adjustment of the carbons and automatic return to open circuit when out of use. In connection with certain of its uses I provide a shutter or screen which permits the presence of the operator close to the are or furnace without danger or injury.

One object of the invention is to provides. practical lighting or heating device in the form of an electric are capable of safe and convenient use by the unskilled, and for this purpose I have illustrated my invention as applied to a cigar-lighter. the mechanism being entirely self-adj usting and operable by the simple depression of a lever Without requiring any knowledge of electricity or of the construction of the device and without any dam ger to the user or liability of the mechanism burning out or breaking down from improper supply of current or adjustment of the carbons, but ready at all times to be instantly and automatically lighted and extinguished and brought at once into position for use.

The constructional details and further ad vantages of my invention will be pointed out in the course of the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which I have shown certain preferred embodiments of my invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows in front elevation, parts being broken away for clearness of illustration, my invention applied to a cigar-lighter. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof, parts being broken away. Fig.3 is aview in rear elevation of a portion of the operating mechanism and supporting plate or diaphragm therefor. Fig. 4 is a transverse horizontal section taken on the line 44, Fig. 3. Figs. 5 and 6 show, respectively in front and side elevations, a fire-clay block, which is preferably used as an insulator and adjusting device. Figs. 7 and 8 are sectional details of different forms of shutter mechanism. Figs. 9 to 11 show a modified construction, Fig. 9 showing the same in front elevation, Fig. 10 in top plan, and Fig. 11 showing the operating mechanism in rear elevation. Fig. 12 is a view of a further modification, showing the mechanism partly in front elevation, partly in section, and partly in diagram.

For convenience of description and understanding I will first explain my invention in its specific application to a cigar-lighter.

On a suitable base a is mounted a standard a (shown as hollow for containing a coil or resistance-tn be a) for the purpose of limiting the flow of current when the carbons come togetherand after the arc is formed, when the device is used in a constant-potential circuit, as will more fully appear further along, and on this standard is mounted a head or casing 0., preferably adjustable by means of setscrews a. In the casing is mounted a frame or diaphragm aflwhich carries the heating device and operating mechanism therefor, the

former being shown best in Figs. 1 and 4 and the latter in Figs. 3 and 4.. In opposite collars a 0., provided at the free ends of studs or rock-shafts a a, are mounted tubes at a, suitably insulated therefrom at a, and carrying carbon or other convenient electrodes a a, normally loose and free to move in said tubes, but adapted to be held immovable therein and in close electrical contact therewith when required by springs 8, herein shown as secured to the tubes at s. This connection also serves in the illustration to receive the circuit-wires w 'w' for supplying current to the carbons. Adjacent to the carbons is a molded fire-clay block a, (shown in detail in Figs. 5 and 6, where it will be seen that it is cut away at a, to form ledges a" and has inclined projecting walls a and an overhangm -bi which acts to concentrate and shield the heat and light produced by the electric are when the carbons are in use. The springs s have rearwardly-projecting ears a, adapted to engage the ledges a" for the purpose of releasing the springs s from the carbons when the carbons are tipped down into engagement with the walls a, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1, and retaining said springs out of contact with said carbons until the latter are turned up into a horizontal position. The carbons and connected mechanism are moved from the lower dotted position, Fig. 1, to the upper dotted position by the mechanism shown in Fig. 3, where it will be seen that the studs a a are provided with arms a, normally held downward by springs s and moved in opposition thereto by a slide a,

provided with slots a, engaged by the inturned ends of said arms (1 ,50 that when the slide a is lifted it simultaneously rocks the two studs (t to, thereby turning the carbons and carbon holders or tubes in the required direction. The slide a is lifted by a thumb-lever 0. pivoted at a to the front plate a of the machine and engaging at its free inner end beneath the lower end of said slide. The front plate a is herein shown as provided with a bell-shaped opening a, through which the end of the cigar to be lighted may be placed, said opening being shielded byascreen or shutter a, Fig. 7 or a" a, Fig. 8. This screen or shutter is an important feature in my invention, as it enables the cigar-lighter to be used in the ordinary manner without danger of exposing the eyes or face of the user to the intense light and heat instantly generated by the electric arc. Said screen may be composed of metal and entirely opaque or it may be composed of translucent material, such as mica or other thin light material, capable of cutting off the heatand most of the light and yet permitting the user to observe the general condition of the are within. The screen or shutter is pivotally mounted at a, and is bent back at its inner edge a to prevent the danger of pinching or gouging the cigar. In Fig. 7 it is shown as hinged so as to recover its normal position by gravity, and in Fig. 8 it is normally held closed by a spring 8.

In brief, the operation of the above-described mechanism is as follows: When the user wishes to light a cigar, he bears down upon the lever e by compressing the same toward a finger-rest a, and thereby raises the slide a and simultaneously rocks the carbons and carbon-holders, so as to swing the carbons from their position of rest against the walls a" of the fire-clay or other insulating block upwardly. As said carbons move upwardly they are free to slide forward, and thereby come into forcible contact as they move toward horizontal position. This establishes a perfect closed circuit. As the carbons are lifted to a horizontal position the springs e a engage them. being lifted out of engagement with the ledges a", on which they have previously rested, and thereafter said springs retain the carbons pressed tightly against the tubes so that proper electrical circuit-making contact is maintained and they cannot move forward, and a farther upwardswinging movement of said carbons separates them sufliciently to establish an arc of great intensity and also to bring them into a precise focus opposite the window or opening a for use. It will be understood that all this operation and movement takes place instantly simply upon the depression of the lever 11 The operator then inserts the cigar, being himself entirely screened by the shutter or shutters contained in said opening. Having lighted the cigar, the operator releases the lever a, and thereupon the springs .9 auto matically swing the tubes upward and carbons downward, so that the latter escape from their retaining-springs s and drop forward against the walls a, of the insulating-block. thereby instantly cutting off the current-supply and at the same time placing said carbons in proper position for instant use by a repetition of the u p'ward-swinging movement. In Figs. 9 to 11 I have shown a different form of mechanism for accomplishing the automatic adjustment, &c., of the carbons, the latter not being themselves mounted to. swing, but being held horizontally, and automatically moved by a form of mechanism somewhat similar to that already described. In said figures I have indicated two carbons b b, mounted in opposite tubes 6 b slidingly held in frames 6 6 each tube being provided with a spring b and a collar 6 vertically slotted at b and engaged by a pin 6 from a crank 6 pivotally mounted in the support or back plate 6", which carries said mechanism. Said crank at its rear end (see Fig. 11) has an arm 6, connected to a link 6", insulated at 6 and pivoted at b on a vertical plunger I)", normally held downwardly by a spring I)" and limited in its reciprocal movement by the engagement of pins 6" b" with a stationary guide I). At its forward end each frame 6 b carries opposite springs 6 b bent inwardly at their free ends, as shown best in Fig. 10, and adapted to be engaged by upwardly-projecting fingers F, carried by a retainer arm or plate 0 pivoted at 6 to the under side of each tube 6 b. On its under side the retaining plate or arm 6 has a cam-lug b, which at times engages a pin 11, projecting from the back plate or support b". It will be observed that this mechanism accomplishes in a different way the same results as previously described in connection with the other embodiment of my invention. When the rod b is lifted, it swings the crank 6 from the full-line position to the dotted-line position, Fig. 11, and in doing so it first slides forward the tube and carbon from the position shown in Fig. 9 until the retainer 6 escapes from the pin 5, whereupon it drops from in front of the carbon, and at the same time the lingers b thereof escape from the springs if, leaving the carbon and tube free to continue their forward movement, the carbon being held in proper contact with said tube by the spring 5'. As the opposite arms I) approach horizontal position the carbons come in contact with each other and, if necessary, are permitted by the yielding springs 6 to push each other back into the tubes slightly, and the further swinging movement of the levers 5 to their dotted position, Fig. 11,

serves to separate said carbons and establish the desired arc. When the operator lets go of the rod 5, its spring Z1 at once causes the reverse swinging movement of the crank 6" to take place, the tubes and carbons being first retracted slightly until the retainers b are engaged by the pins 5 and swung u'pwardly to the position shown in Fig. 9, thereby causing the fingers b to engage the springs b and press the latter against the carbons, so that said carbons are thereupon halted until they are pulled out of the retreating tubes and brought into engagement with the ends' In Fig. 12 I have shown a still further means of accomplishing the broader features of my invention, this figure showing an electromagnet arrangement. A pair of electromagnets c c are arranged at a suitable angle to each other and each provided with a sleeve 0, of suitable metal, to form an armature for the magnet, each armature a carrying a'ringclutch c, pivoted thereto at c andheld at an angle by a lip a, allowing, however, a small amount of gripping movement against the carbon c, so that when the circuit is closed it thereby actuates the armatures and retreats suficiently to separate the carbons and establish the are. When the circuit is broken by releasing the switch, (a conventional switch being indicated at 0 the carbons fall by gravity against a suitable rest or block a preferably of fire clay.

While I have herein described certain emtemporarily, provided with means for automatic starting,adjustment, and extinguishing.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecnre by Letters Patent, is-

1. An electric cigar-lighter, comprising a casing having an opening for the insertion of a cigar, means for establishing an electric are opposite said opening, and means for automatically screening said are from the user while lighting said cigar.

2. An electric cigar-lighter, comprising a casing having an opening for the insertion of a cigar, and an automatic shutter for screeningsaid opening and yet permitting the insertion of the cigar.

3. An electric cigar-lighter, comprising a casing having an opening for the insertion of a cigar, means for establishing an electric are opposite said opening, and means for screening said are from the user while lighting said cigar.

4:. An electric cigar-lighter, comprising a casing having an opening for the insertion of a cigar, opposite electrodes for forming an arc, and means for establishing said are opposite said opening.

5. An electric cigar-lighter, having a casing, containing an opening to receive the cigar to be lighted, an electrical lighting device, and means for establishing the lighting-fire of said device uniformly opposite saidopening whenever said device is brought into use.

6. An electric cigar-lighter having a casing provided with an opening through which the cigar may be placed for lighting, an electrical lighting device, means operated by the user to bring said lighting device into action, and self-adjusting mechanism operating in connection with said lighting device to insure uniformity of action in the latter upon repeated use.

7. An electric cigar-lighter, having means for receiving a cigar to be lighted, operating means for producing an electric arc in position for lighting the cigar, and means operating in connection therewith and depending upon the operation of said operating means .for instantly lighting and extinguishing said are. 7

8. In an apparatus of the kind described, comprising electrodes normally out of use,

means maintaining them in relative position for instant use, and operating mechanism'acting independent of the current for moving said LII electrodes at will into position for use, and

means cooperating with said operating mech-.

anism and said maintaining means for automatically establishing an are.

9. In an apparatus of the kind described, a pair of electrodes, manually-operated mechanism for giving said electrodes a compound movement, said mechanism including means for bringing the electrodes together for establishing the circuit, and means for separating said electrodes to establish an are.

10. In an apparatus of the kind described, a pair of electrodes, manually-operated mechanism for giving said electrodes a compound movement, said mechanism including means for bringing the electrodes together and for thereafter separating said electrodes to establish an arc, and also including means for restoring said electrodes to further separated position for breaking the circuit.

11. In an apparatus of the kind described, a pair of electrodes, means normally holding said electrodes loosely, means for yieldingly engaging said electrodes,and means for movmg said electrodes together for establishing the circuit, and means for thereafter separat ing said electrodes to establish an are.

12. .In an apparatus of the kind described, a pair of tubular holders, electrodes loosely mounted therein, means engaging the ends of said electrodes and holding them separated when out of use, said means automatically adjusting said electrodes at a predetermined distance from each other, means for moving said electrodes into mutual self-adjusting contact for establishing the circuit, means for yieldingly holdingsaid electrodes in their selfadjusted position, and means for separating said electrodes for establishing an are.

13. In an apparatus of the kind described, a pair of electrodes movable toward and from each other, and swinging mechanism for adjusting said electrodes, said swinging mechanism including means for bringing said electrodes together to establish the circuit, and also means for thereafter separating said electrodes to establish an are.

14. In an apparatus of the kind described, a pair of electrodes movable toward and from each other, and swinging mechanism for adjusting said electrodes, said swinging mechanism including means for bringing said electrodes together and for thereafter separating said electrodes to establish an arc, and means for giving said swinging mechanism-a return movement for separating the electrodes to extinguish the are.

15. In an apparatus of the kind described, a pair of electrode-holders, electrodes loosely mounted therein, an intermediate support against which said electrodes may rest when idle, and means for swinging said holders, and electrodes away from said intermediate support, said electrodes moving by gravity in said holders against said support.

16. In an apparatus of the kind described, an electrode,an insulating-block against which said electrode may rest, means for moving said electrode into proximity to said block,

said electrode when so placed being free tomove by gravity against said block, and means for moving said electrode from said block to operative position, a second electrode with which said first-mentioned electrode contacts, when so moved, for completing the circuit, and means for thereafter separating said electrodes to establish an arc.

17. In an apparatus of the kind described, an electrode, a swinging support therefor, means for swinging said support, a cooperating electrode, and means for moving said firstmentioned electrode into contact with said 00- operating electrode and then sufliciently out of contact therewith to establish an are.

18. In an apparatus of the kind described, a pair of electrodes pivotally mounted opposite each other, means for simultaneously swinging said electrodes in arcs tangential to each other, and means maintaining said electrodes in position so that whenever swung by the aforesaid means their free ends will move in said tangential ares.

19. In an apparatus of the kind described, pivoted means carrying a pair of electrodes to swing in arcs tangential to each other, opposite arms extending from said pivoted means, and manuallyaoperated means extending vertically between and connected to said arms for positively moving the latter and thereby swinging said electrodes.

20. In an apparatus'of the kind described, a pair of electrodes pivotally mounted opposite each other, means for simultaneously swinging said electrodes in arcs tangential to each other, and means for automatically adjusting said electrodes after each operation thereof to proper position for subsequent use.

21. In an apparatus of the kind described, a pair of electrodes, an insulating-block normally separating said electrodes in extinguished position, and operating mechanism for moving said electrodes from said block to position for establishing an are, said mechanism including means for automatically restoring said electrodes to said separated position.

22. In an apparatus of the kind described, a pair of electrodes, means for swinging said electrodes into and past contacting position, means for automatically adjusting said electrodes to each other as they come in contact, and means cooperating with said swinging means for thereafter separating them as they move past said contacting position for forming an arc.

23. In an apparatus of the kind described, a pair of electrodes, means for swinging said electrodes into and past contacting position, means for automatically adjusting said electrodes to each other as they come into contact for and thereafter separating them as they move past said contacting position for forming an arc, and means thereafter automatically holding said electrodes in said adjustment.

24. In an apparatus of the kind described, a pair of electrodes, means for swinging said electrodes into and past contacting position, means for automatically adjusting said electrodes to each other as they come into con tact and for thereafter separating them as they move past said contacting position for forming an arc, and means for thereafter automatically swinging said electrodes beyond arcing position for extinguishing the are.

25. In an apparatus of the kind described, a pair of electrode-holders, electrodes movably mounted therein, an insulating-support against which said electrodes may rest when idle, means for swinging said holders into and past contacting position, means for automatically adjusting said electrodes to each other when moved into contact, and means for thereafter automatically holding said electrodes in said adjustment.

26. In an apparatus of the kind described, a block of refractory material having an overhanging portion, a casing having an opening opposite thereto, and means for establishing an electric are opposite said opening and beneath said overhanging portion.

. 27. In an apparatus of the kind described, a casing containing an opening, means for establishing an electric are opposite said opening, a movable shutter for screening said opening, and means for automatically closing said shutter.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES I. AYER.

Witnesses:

STEPHEN E. Woonennr, Dona A. PROCTOR. 

